No. 1629 - Launceston - Reverend John Youl and Launceston's first place of worship (1818-1824)
St John’s Anglican church is Launceston’s oldest place of worship. The bicentenary of the first Divine Service, held on Friday 16 December 1825, is celebrated this year. Before the construction of St John’s was completed, religious services were conducted in various buildings which were prepared as temporary places of worship. One of these included a converted blacksmith’s shop in Cameron Street where parishioners were summoned to “Divine worship” by an iron drum. The early history of the Anglican church at Launceston (and George Town) is closely bound up with the life of Reverend John Youl (1773 – 1827), the first chaplain appointed in the north of Tasmania.
Sources and Further Information:
The Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter, Saturday 6 February 1819, page 2
Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser, Friday 24 September 1824, page 2
Tasmanian and port Dalrymple Advertiser, Wednesday 19 January 1825, page 2
Hobart Town Gazette and Van Dieman's Land Advertiser, Friday 8 April 1825, page 2
Tasmanian and Port Dalrymple Advertiser, Wednesday 9 February 1825, page 2
Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser, Friday 30 March 1827, page 3
Examiner, Thursday 29 November 1928, page 8
https://resources.allsaints.network/histcoll/index.php/Detail/entities/P003
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/youl-john-2827
Cox, Peter, The Story of the Anglican Parish of George Town, (2006) Published by the Anglican Parish of Riverlinks
Green, Anne and Launceston (Tas.). Council. A model municipality : places of management, mentoring & medicine in Launceston / Anne Green Launceston City Council Launceston, Tas. 2007
This blog entry reproduces a paper read by Rev. W. R. Barrett to the Northern Clerical Reading Union which he delivered in 1928. The paper focuses on the life of John Youl and his work in George Town and Launceston. The following extract was published in the Launceston Examiner:
It is my purpose in this paper to put together some of the scanty material available concerning the life and labours of the Rev. John Youl, the first chaplain at Port Dalrymple, who paid his first visit to Tasmania towards the end of 1818.
The settlement was established under Paterson in 1804, and consisted of about 1415 persons all told. There was no chaplain, and Paterson reported to Governor King his provision for the
spiritual needs of his little community:-"As I was at a loss for a person to perform Divine Service, I have requested of Captain Kent to discharge from H.M.S. Buffalo Edward Main, and have appointed him to that duty for the present until I hear from your Excellency." It does seem remarkable and reprehensible that the spiritual needs of the new establishment were neglected, and continued to be neglected for so many years, during which it had grown to a much larger settlement. In 1809 there were 77 persons; in 1814, 454; and 1816, 495; of the latter number 172 were convicts.
One of the primary aims of transportation was the moral reformation of the convicts, but an equally important principle kept constantly before the Governors by the Colonial Office was that of economy in public expenditure, and this always prevented the authorities from providing a sufficient number of chaplains. Besides, I have gathered the impression that even if money had been available it would not have been easy to secure all the chaplains necessary for service in these convict settlements.
However, by 1814 the spiritual needs of Port Dalrymple were taken into consideration by the Home Government, and the Rev. John Youl was appointed the first chaplain, his commission receiving the Royal assent on March 27 1815.
Of his birthplace or surroundings I have not been able to discover any record. In fact, we know nothing of him till be begins to take a place in colonial events. In December, 1798, when he was only 21, years of age, John Youl left England for Tahiti to labour as a missionary under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. These were the days of the war with France, following upon the Revolution, and the vessel on which Youl sailed was unfortunately captured by the French. Later on he was enabled to return to England, from whence he again sailed on the "Royal Admiral" on May 5, 1800. The vessel arrived safely at Port Jackson in November of the same year. Youl remained in New South Wales for some six months, possibly awaiting a vessel for the Islands, and he only arrived at Tahiti on July 10, 1801. He laboured there till 1807, when the natives started fighting among themselves, and made it unsafe for Europeans, so Youl and two fellow workers left the island and returned to Sydney.
Good Christian men who could minister to the religious needs of groups of settlers and act as schoolmasters in the day schools were sorely needed, and Youl was not long in finding work to do which was to a degree missionary in character. He accepted office at Rose Bay with the Presbyterian community as catechist and school master. How long he remained there is not on record but it appears that some time afterwards he acted as a school master at Windsor. A very important event occurred on January 31, 1810 when Youl was married at St. John’s Church, Parramatta, by the Rev. Henry Fulton of that church. For a long time it was uncertain who the lady was that he married, the only information being that her name was Jane. From the circumstance that the eldest son was named James "Arndell," it was thought that she was a daughter of Dr. Arndell, of Sydney, even the descendants of the family believing this to be correct. It was ascertained only a couple of years ago that Youl’s wife was Jane Loder, daughter of Francis Loder, who was one of his fellow workers at Tahiti. Mrs. Youl was then barely 17 years old, while her husband was 33.
Early in 1813 Youl and his wife and young family returned to England, where he had a small property, and was in a short time admitted to Holy Orders, deacon by the Bishop of Chester and priest by the Bishop of London. His ordination was apparently for service in the colonies, and he was gazetted chaplain of Port Dalrymple on March 27, 1815.
He left England in the "Ocean" with his wife and family, and arrived at Port Jackson on January 30, 1816. It was some years before regular direct communication was opened up between Tasmania and England: every thing first went to headquarters at Sydney, and the Governor had first choice of convicts, stores, or any other good things that might come along. At any rate, Governor Macquarie detained Youl in N.S.W., the excuse being that there was no suitable residence for him at Port Dalrymple. This was probably a true, but certainly not a sufficient reason for his action. It was not till near the end of 1819 that Youl finally took up his duties at Port Dalrymple, and no one seems to have exerted himself much to facilitate his removal from N.S.W. to his appointed sphere of work.
Doubtless Macquarie found Youl very useful, for he gave him the charge of the Liverpool district. Youl seems to have remained in charge till his removal to Tasmania. In April, 1818, Macquarie records the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new church, St. Luke's, Liverpool, when Rev. and Mrs. Youl were among those present.
Governor Macquarie was very determined on one very bad stroke of policy and that was to remove the headquarters of the northern settlement from the newer and increasingly important settlement of Launceston back to George Town, which, because of its proximity to the sea, he was convinced should be the natural headquarters.But the settlers were unwilling to move, and the commandants and other public officers were also disinclined to exert themselves in bringing about the change. Macquarie was determined that Youl should go to George Town, not Launceston, and so the poor chaplain had to wait in N.S.W. while events pursued their leisurely way at Port Dalrymple.
On October 28, 1815, Major James Stewart, on taking over the command, was given a schedule of public buildings to be erected at George Town in York Cove, previous to the final removal of the principal settlement from Launceston. The list comprises 14 items. No. 13 on the list is "a school house to answer as a temporary chapel, with an apartment in ditto for the schoolmaster," but it should in fairness be stated that No. 14 and last is "house and offices for the commandant.
The arrival of Mr. Youl in January, 1816, hastened matters ecclesiastical a little, but note that it was only on July 31 - six months after - that Macquarie wrote to Stewart:- "The Rev. Mr. Youl, a regularly ordained clergy man having been sent out hither lately as chaplain for the settlement of Port Dalrymple for which he has been specially appointed by commission, he has frequently expressed his earnest desire to be sent down to his duty at that settlement, but I have hitherto resisted his several applications on account of there being no house or barrack at Launceston fit for the accommodation of himself and family, for he is a married man with three or four children. I have therefore to desire that a small barrack or house of one storey, containing at least four rooms, may be built for the accommodation of Mr. Youl at George Town, as soon as possible, with kitchen and other necessary offices, to be erected in one of the angles of the square in the centre of the town. A moderate sized school house must also be built in one of the angles of the same square, with as little delay as possible, which it is, intended shall answer in the meantime as a temporary chapel or place of public worship until the funds of the colony will admit of a regular church being erected at George Town. I request that no time may be lost in erecting them."
But Major Stewart was rather a contentious and fractious individual, and while he was in charge (he was succeeded by Cimittere 1818) hardly any building work was done. A year later-June 23, 1817 - Lieut. Governor Sorell reported to Macquarie that he had just been to George Town and found the place full of party spirit, and that Major Stewart and Mr. Leith, the superintendent in charge of public works, were at loggerheads. He said that no buildings had been erected but a temporary store and a lime hut. Sorell ordered the clergyman’s house to be commenced at once.
It was just a few days before this that George Town was surprised by the bushrangers. There was only a lance-sergeant and five soldiers there, and Major Stewart had Mr. Leith in confinement at Launceston, so that the convicts were without command or control, and actually assisted the bushrangers to rob the stores.
On September 24, 1818, Macquarie wrote to Cimitiere - "I am particularly anxious that the house and offices for the residence of the chaplain should be completed as soon as possible, as the Rev. Mr. Youl is extremely desirous to go to his station, and it is my intention to send him down to George Town about the middle of December next at furthest."
But Youl had already made up his mind to come down to Port Dalrymple by the first opportunity for a short visit to his new sphere. Perhaps he thought that if he was on the spot he could hurry the arrangements for his reception, or it may be that he had some urgent cause for his visit.
Accordingly he arranged to leave New South Wales in the Prince Leopold in August, but repairs were found to be necessary, and she was delayed. He only reached Hobart Town on December 20, 1818. He was detained there until the 4th or 5th January, 1819. His visitation lasted only a little over three weeks, of which the greater part seems to have been spent at Launceston, but he certainly visited George Town with Col. Cimitiere. Youl returned to New South Wales via Hobart Town on the brig Alert on February 8, 1819. Apparently Youl spent much of his time at Launceston per forming marriages and baptisms. The "Gazette" of February 6, 1818, records that he married 41 couples and baptised 67 children at Port Dalrymple "to the great satisfaction and comfort of the people of the settlement.” *
Marriages had hitherto been performed by a magistrate, and Youl tells us that four out of every five couples he married had gone through the ceremony of a civil marriage before the magistrate. We can imagine, too, I feel sure, that in the absence of a clergyman, many of the couples had not been married at all.
By this time Macquarie realised that he could not keep Youl away from his appointed work any longer, and that it was little use waiting for suitable accommodation to be provided at George Town. He therefore wrote to Sorell saying that Youl would come to Port Dalrymple permanently later on in the same year, and that he was to live at Launceston at the Commandant's old house (on a site in what is now the City Park) until such time as a house and temporary chapel were ready at George Town.
In August, 1819, Cimitiere reported that the old Government House had been put into suitable repair, and Sorell intimated that Youl would arrive in the beginning of September. Youl and his family did not leave New South Wales till some time in October, and arrived at Port Dalrymple some few days before the 18th November, 1819. On that date we have a letter of Lieut.- Governor Sorell to Youl congratulating him for his safe arrival and expressing his “high satisfaction at the beneficial prospect” which his ministry affords to the settlement. Sorell hopes that his residence is convenient and suitable, and says that he has requested the commandant to afford any assistance he might wish for the comfortable establishment of himself and family. He concludes by saying, "I will he happy at all times to hear from you on any subject connected with your own important duties and the welfare of the people amongst whom you are placed."
The chaplain's first "church" was a blacksmith's shop, a small wooden building in Cameron-street, where the Equitable Building Society's premises now stand. In this he performed divine service twice every Sunday.His ministrations were acceptable, for he soon found that the building was too small to contain the people who at tended on Sundays, and he said that it was impossible to administer the Sacrament in it. The building was also in bad repair, and he urged that something should be done before the next winter, otherwise he feared that he would not be able to perform his duty in it. He had reason to believe that several persons were absenting themselves already on account of the state of the building.
Upon personal Inspection Governor Sorell decided that it was not worth the estimated cost of £124 to repair the old building and convert it into is a place for divine worship* and a school and ordered the erection of a new building, and accepted the offer of Messrs Lucas to erect it for £200 cash and 300 acres of land to each of the two brothers. Macquarie in October 1820 approved of the action, but thought the price a great deal too much, and objected to part payment in land, preferring all payments of this of nature to be made in cash. Whether this was actually built, and where, I cannot say; but at any rate more suitable accommodation seems to have been provided for public worship and school.
Youl's flock was a very mixed one. There were first of all the few militia and the civil officers and their wives, the free settlers and their families, scattered about on the farms, the time expired prisoners and ticket-of-leave men, and the convicts. The latter three classes formed the bulk of the population, and a deplorable picture of their moral condition is given us. Youl says that there was a great deal of depravity and dissipation, particularly amongst the emancipated convicts and ticklet-of-leave men. Their ordinary language and conversation were very disgusting, largely the result of frequent intoxication, though we are pleased to learn that even such people respected the cloth, and Youl never received any personal insult.
Adultery and prostitution were common. In fact, there was a general of belief among the convicts that transportation to the colony released them from their matrimonial engagements. Youl says a "great many apply to me to be married whom I have reason to think have been formerly and are still married, though separated from their wives”. Youl speaks more highly of the younger generation growing up - the native born, as they were called - and says they are much to be commended for sobriety and industry considering the bad example they have before them.
Youl therefore had a very unenviable task in endeavouring to uplift a population, the bulk of whom were of such a degraded nature. The prisoners and expirees were of the worst type as only the worst of the prisoners were usually sent to Port Dalrymple and the rest of the inhabitants had been so long without the opportunity of attending Divine Service that they had been almost weaned from the practice of attending religious worship. Youl was a faithful and conscientious pastor so we can well imagine that he had an anxious and busy time.
Governor Macquarle, on the eve of his retirement from the government paid a visit to Tasmania in May and June, 1821. He was still intent on making George Town the headquarters and was dissatisfied to find Launceston still the main centre. Macquarie ordered Youl into residence at George Town, where apparently his parsonage was ready, but winter was already advanced, and he therefore conceded to Youl's request that he might delay his removal until the weather improved. But he gave positive orders to Sorell that Youl was to be in residence there on or before the 1st September next. Macquarie directed that Youl was to come to Launceston to perform divine worship and the other clerical duties once every two months during the summer, autumn, and spring seasons. No mention is made of the winter, so doubtless Launceston was to be without clerical ministrations during the winter months.
Youl went into residence as ordered, of and apparently remained at George Town till headquarters were moved back to Launceston somewhere about the close of 1824. I believe that the parsonage had been converted into a female penitentiary, and in 1825, a house was bought in Launceston for a new parsonage at a cost of £100. The settlement had by this time grown to considerable proportions. There were 900 inhabitants, 270 free persons and 621 bond. There were 209 buildings, of which 123 were dwelling houses, the remainder being stores, shops, skillions, and stables; 33 more houses were in building. By this time too there was a gaol, a penitentiary, and a female factory. Youl's work and responsibility had therefore very largely increased in the few years he had been at Port Dalrymple. **
On handing over the government to Lieut. Governor Arthur, Sorell reported on 22nd May, 1824 -"A church one-third smaller than that at Hobart Town was some time since ordered at Launceston, where it is urgently needed, the school house at present appropriated as a temporary place of worship being small and Inadequate." Arthur writes on 22nd October, 1824:- “Materials are collecting for the erection of a church at Launceston." This was old St. John's, the site of which had been consecrated in 1823, it is said, by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, Senior Chaplain in N.S.W. On 28th January, 1825, the foundation stone was laid by Lieut.-Governor Arthur, and the building was far enough advanced to be used by the end of the year.
Archdeacon Scott visited Tasmania in January, 1826, and during his visitation went to Launceston. He wrote to Lieut-Governor Arthur:- "I beg to express to your Excellency the great satisfaction I felt at finding the church which you had ordered to be built in so forward a state as to enable the inhabitants to attend divine service without much inconvenience. As, however, circumstances will not admit of immediate consecration, I have judged it prudent to defer it until a more seasonable opportunity."
The arrangement and structure of the edifice being simple, but convenient, and admirably adapted to the celebration of divine worship, it only remains for me to recommend to your a Excellency that directions be given for the erection of a plain font and basin opposite to the western entrance - that a Table and plain communion plate be provided, consisting of a plated cup and "two salvers of moderate dimensions, two linen napkins, and one quarto altar service, a scarlet covering for the table, together with two kneeling stools and two plain chairs. There ought to be provided two surplices for the minister, a large-sized Bible and Prayer Book for the desk, and a smaller Prayer Book for the clerk. The pulpit ornaments should correspond with the communion, and it appears to me that a cushion and cloth for the front will be sufficient so soon as the dimensions of the pulpit are ascertained. It will be also necessary to supply a bell of sufficient power that the inhabitants may ascertain the time when divine service is about to commence.”
From the above it will be gathered that the worshippers must have met in a very bare, barn-like place for some little time to come. Apparently Youl took up his parson’s glebe at Launceston, and not at George Town. As a matter of fact the absence of good agricultural land was the great drawback to the settlement at George Town. Giving evidence before Mr. Commissioner Bigge, Youl said that he had not yet (1820) received his glebe land, but he was about to take it near Gibson's farm, on the South Esk River, about 12 miles from Launceston. I do not know how much he received. Paterson's original instructions were that 200 acres were to be allotted to the clergyman as his glebe, but later instructions from Macquarie stipulated 400 acres. Youl said that there was no good land nearer the town that could be made available without considerable expense in fencing. Whether lie actually received this good land on the South Esk Is uncertain, for he only got £30 per annum for this glebe, paid in produce, for three years, and then relinquished it on account of the bad quality of the soil, and not being fenced in for him according to Government orders.
Youl was not actually poor, but he had a large family of eight, and living was most expensive In Tasmania at that time. His salary at his first appointment was £182 10s. In 1822 and 123 he petitioned the Secretary of State for an increase; to which he felt entitled, and this was granted in 1824, making the salary £250 per annum, though no arrears were paid. In addition to the small property In England before mentioned, Youl received various grants of land, 700 acres from Lord Bathurst, which he took in the neighbourhood of "Clarendon," on the South Esk, as well, as the use of five Government servants, with rations for them and his family for the first eighteen months of his residence at Port Dalrymple, and "use of six Government cows for and extended period. In addition to these indulgences received further grants of 100 acres as a remuneration for travelling expenses (incurred in his removal from N.S.W., I presume), 500 acres grant from Governor Brisbane for his second son, and 108 acres from Lieut.- Governor Arthur for his eldest son. On coming to Tasmania he had purchased some sheep, and exchanged the increase for land, and by the time of his death the family was in possession of 4000 acres, 500 sheep, and 100 head of cattle.
Nothing much is known of Youl’s labours after his return to Launceston at the end of 1824, but doubtless his days were very full, and the arduous duties of the growing settlement must often have taxed is strength. He died (rather unexpectedly, It would seem) at Launceston on 25th March, 1827, regretted by all. The funeral service took place on 31st March, and was conducted by the Rev. R. Clathorne, B.A., who had been appointed headmaster of the "Cornwall Collegiate” institution early in 1827. The Rev. Wm. Bedford, the senior chaplain at Hobart, preached a funeral sermon on April 1.
There is no doubt that the Rev. John. Youl was a humble faithful shepherd of his flock, and that he was much liked and respected by his people. Indeed, the "Colonial Times" broke out into an eight-versed poem on his virtues. But Archdeacon Scott, reporting on his work, said:- Of Mr. Youl’s abilities, I regret to say that they were below mediocrity, and his age and infirmities rendered him quite unfit for the duties of so large and populous a district, but I verily believe he did his duty to the utmost of such abilities as he possessed." *** All the references I have seen to John Youl give the impression that he was an old man. The "Colonial Times" said that he was nearly 70 years of age on his death. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when referring to the tombstone over hIs grave in the old Cypress-street Cemetery in Launceston, I found his age given as 50 years. The Colonial Times is no authority. It Is that paper which is responsible for the assertion that Youl died of a broken heart on receipt of news that he was to be transferred to the South Esk River. This is high improbable: it fact, ridiculous, In view of the fact that this was a small military outpost, and there were many large districts without chaplains. But there can be no mistake about the other references as - to Youl's age and infirmity. Perhaps the truth is that he looked older than he really was and his years of service in the South Seas may have weakened his constitution and made him less hardy and vigorous than he should otherwise have been at 50 years of age.
A year later his widow transmitted, through Archdeacon Scott, a petition to the Secretary of State for a pension. Lieut.-Governor Arthur supported it, and said that it was certainly a hard case and that the family was in very distressed circumstances. The eldest boy was only 17 years old, and one had been born six weeks after his father's death, so the widow would have a struggle to provide for them and educate them according to their station - one had begun his education for the church, and she was desirous of continuing him in that course if possible. The family should have been comfortably oft according to our present notions, but we must remember that labour was very expensive in those days, and settlers required a big capital behind them generally if they were to succeed.
Unfortunately the Secretary of State refused the pension; it seems that he was principally afraid of creating a precedent, but as a help, if desired, he offered a free return passage to England. This was not availed of. Mrs. Youl remained here, and lived to a great old age, dying at her home near Evandale on 11th July, 1877, at the age of 84 years. She was buried with her husband, as was also her sons William and John, who predeceased her, and her daughter Charlotte, who died only In 1905, at the age of 80 years.
Thus ends the story of the Rev. John Youl and his work at Port Dalrymple. Though doubtless he had no great outstanding gifts, yet even the life of an ordinary man in those extraordinaryn times Is of great interest. The pity of it is that we have too little information to make a connected story, but we have enough to give all honour to the humble, pious, good man, who was a faithful pastor of souls in those difficult days of Port Dalrymple.
* Sorell’s planned improvement to the blacksmith’s shop included providing worshippers with a proper place to kneel, to install four glass windows and to line the interior with weatherboard. It is not clear if these improvements were carried out.
** Responsibilities included administering the last rites to condemned prisoner. In September 1824, Youl and Catholic priest, Philip Connolly, “attended at the place of execution”, at Port Dalrymple, of “ten unfortunate men who suffered the awful sentence of the law”. A report on the execution records “…with the exception of Corfield, the whole of these unhappy men died penitently, and in begging forgiveness of their sins to the Almighty…”.
*** A report in the Hobart Town Gazette in 1825 described Youl as “a very mild humane man, and who… has never once caused a quarrel by unclergymanlike interference with things not attached to his sacred province”.
It is my purpose in this paper to put together some of the scanty material available concerning the life and labours of the Rev. John Youl, the first chaplain at Port Dalrymple, who paid his first visit to Tasmania towards the end of 1818.
The settlement was established under Paterson in 1804, and consisted of about 1415 persons all told. There was no chaplain, and Paterson reported to Governor King his provision for the
spiritual needs of his little community:-"As I was at a loss for a person to perform Divine Service, I have requested of Captain Kent to discharge from H.M.S. Buffalo Edward Main, and have appointed him to that duty for the present until I hear from your Excellency." It does seem remarkable and reprehensible that the spiritual needs of the new establishment were neglected, and continued to be neglected for so many years, during which it had grown to a much larger settlement. In 1809 there were 77 persons; in 1814, 454; and 1816, 495; of the latter number 172 were convicts.
One of the primary aims of transportation was the moral reformation of the convicts, but an equally important principle kept constantly before the Governors by the Colonial Office was that of economy in public expenditure, and this always prevented the authorities from providing a sufficient number of chaplains. Besides, I have gathered the impression that even if money had been available it would not have been easy to secure all the chaplains necessary for service in these convict settlements.
However, by 1814 the spiritual needs of Port Dalrymple were taken into consideration by the Home Government, and the Rev. John Youl was appointed the first chaplain, his commission receiving the Royal assent on March 27 1815.
Of his birthplace or surroundings I have not been able to discover any record. In fact, we know nothing of him till be begins to take a place in colonial events. In December, 1798, when he was only 21, years of age, John Youl left England for Tahiti to labour as a missionary under the auspices of the London Missionary Society. These were the days of the war with France, following upon the Revolution, and the vessel on which Youl sailed was unfortunately captured by the French. Later on he was enabled to return to England, from whence he again sailed on the "Royal Admiral" on May 5, 1800. The vessel arrived safely at Port Jackson in November of the same year. Youl remained in New South Wales for some six months, possibly awaiting a vessel for the Islands, and he only arrived at Tahiti on July 10, 1801. He laboured there till 1807, when the natives started fighting among themselves, and made it unsafe for Europeans, so Youl and two fellow workers left the island and returned to Sydney.
Good Christian men who could minister to the religious needs of groups of settlers and act as schoolmasters in the day schools were sorely needed, and Youl was not long in finding work to do which was to a degree missionary in character. He accepted office at Rose Bay with the Presbyterian community as catechist and school master. How long he remained there is not on record but it appears that some time afterwards he acted as a school master at Windsor. A very important event occurred on January 31, 1810 when Youl was married at St. John’s Church, Parramatta, by the Rev. Henry Fulton of that church. For a long time it was uncertain who the lady was that he married, the only information being that her name was Jane. From the circumstance that the eldest son was named James "Arndell," it was thought that she was a daughter of Dr. Arndell, of Sydney, even the descendants of the family believing this to be correct. It was ascertained only a couple of years ago that Youl’s wife was Jane Loder, daughter of Francis Loder, who was one of his fellow workers at Tahiti. Mrs. Youl was then barely 17 years old, while her husband was 33.
Early in 1813 Youl and his wife and young family returned to England, where he had a small property, and was in a short time admitted to Holy Orders, deacon by the Bishop of Chester and priest by the Bishop of London. His ordination was apparently for service in the colonies, and he was gazetted chaplain of Port Dalrymple on March 27, 1815.
He left England in the "Ocean" with his wife and family, and arrived at Port Jackson on January 30, 1816. It was some years before regular direct communication was opened up between Tasmania and England: every thing first went to headquarters at Sydney, and the Governor had first choice of convicts, stores, or any other good things that might come along. At any rate, Governor Macquarie detained Youl in N.S.W., the excuse being that there was no suitable residence for him at Port Dalrymple. This was probably a true, but certainly not a sufficient reason for his action. It was not till near the end of 1819 that Youl finally took up his duties at Port Dalrymple, and no one seems to have exerted himself much to facilitate his removal from N.S.W. to his appointed sphere of work.
Doubtless Macquarie found Youl very useful, for he gave him the charge of the Liverpool district. Youl seems to have remained in charge till his removal to Tasmania. In April, 1818, Macquarie records the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new church, St. Luke's, Liverpool, when Rev. and Mrs. Youl were among those present.
Governor Macquarie was very determined on one very bad stroke of policy and that was to remove the headquarters of the northern settlement from the newer and increasingly important settlement of Launceston back to George Town, which, because of its proximity to the sea, he was convinced should be the natural headquarters.But the settlers were unwilling to move, and the commandants and other public officers were also disinclined to exert themselves in bringing about the change. Macquarie was determined that Youl should go to George Town, not Launceston, and so the poor chaplain had to wait in N.S.W. while events pursued their leisurely way at Port Dalrymple.
On October 28, 1815, Major James Stewart, on taking over the command, was given a schedule of public buildings to be erected at George Town in York Cove, previous to the final removal of the principal settlement from Launceston. The list comprises 14 items. No. 13 on the list is "a school house to answer as a temporary chapel, with an apartment in ditto for the schoolmaster," but it should in fairness be stated that No. 14 and last is "house and offices for the commandant.
The arrival of Mr. Youl in January, 1816, hastened matters ecclesiastical a little, but note that it was only on July 31 - six months after - that Macquarie wrote to Stewart:- "The Rev. Mr. Youl, a regularly ordained clergy man having been sent out hither lately as chaplain for the settlement of Port Dalrymple for which he has been specially appointed by commission, he has frequently expressed his earnest desire to be sent down to his duty at that settlement, but I have hitherto resisted his several applications on account of there being no house or barrack at Launceston fit for the accommodation of himself and family, for he is a married man with three or four children. I have therefore to desire that a small barrack or house of one storey, containing at least four rooms, may be built for the accommodation of Mr. Youl at George Town, as soon as possible, with kitchen and other necessary offices, to be erected in one of the angles of the square in the centre of the town. A moderate sized school house must also be built in one of the angles of the same square, with as little delay as possible, which it is, intended shall answer in the meantime as a temporary chapel or place of public worship until the funds of the colony will admit of a regular church being erected at George Town. I request that no time may be lost in erecting them."
But Major Stewart was rather a contentious and fractious individual, and while he was in charge (he was succeeded by Cimittere 1818) hardly any building work was done. A year later-June 23, 1817 - Lieut. Governor Sorell reported to Macquarie that he had just been to George Town and found the place full of party spirit, and that Major Stewart and Mr. Leith, the superintendent in charge of public works, were at loggerheads. He said that no buildings had been erected but a temporary store and a lime hut. Sorell ordered the clergyman’s house to be commenced at once.
It was just a few days before this that George Town was surprised by the bushrangers. There was only a lance-sergeant and five soldiers there, and Major Stewart had Mr. Leith in confinement at Launceston, so that the convicts were without command or control, and actually assisted the bushrangers to rob the stores.
On September 24, 1818, Macquarie wrote to Cimitiere - "I am particularly anxious that the house and offices for the residence of the chaplain should be completed as soon as possible, as the Rev. Mr. Youl is extremely desirous to go to his station, and it is my intention to send him down to George Town about the middle of December next at furthest."
But Youl had already made up his mind to come down to Port Dalrymple by the first opportunity for a short visit to his new sphere. Perhaps he thought that if he was on the spot he could hurry the arrangements for his reception, or it may be that he had some urgent cause for his visit.
Accordingly he arranged to leave New South Wales in the Prince Leopold in August, but repairs were found to be necessary, and she was delayed. He only reached Hobart Town on December 20, 1818. He was detained there until the 4th or 5th January, 1819. His visitation lasted only a little over three weeks, of which the greater part seems to have been spent at Launceston, but he certainly visited George Town with Col. Cimitiere. Youl returned to New South Wales via Hobart Town on the brig Alert on February 8, 1819. Apparently Youl spent much of his time at Launceston per forming marriages and baptisms. The "Gazette" of February 6, 1818, records that he married 41 couples and baptised 67 children at Port Dalrymple "to the great satisfaction and comfort of the people of the settlement.” *
Marriages had hitherto been performed by a magistrate, and Youl tells us that four out of every five couples he married had gone through the ceremony of a civil marriage before the magistrate. We can imagine, too, I feel sure, that in the absence of a clergyman, many of the couples had not been married at all.
By this time Macquarie realised that he could not keep Youl away from his appointed work any longer, and that it was little use waiting for suitable accommodation to be provided at George Town. He therefore wrote to Sorell saying that Youl would come to Port Dalrymple permanently later on in the same year, and that he was to live at Launceston at the Commandant's old house (on a site in what is now the City Park) until such time as a house and temporary chapel were ready at George Town.
In August, 1819, Cimitiere reported that the old Government House had been put into suitable repair, and Sorell intimated that Youl would arrive in the beginning of September. Youl and his family did not leave New South Wales till some time in October, and arrived at Port Dalrymple some few days before the 18th November, 1819. On that date we have a letter of Lieut.- Governor Sorell to Youl congratulating him for his safe arrival and expressing his “high satisfaction at the beneficial prospect” which his ministry affords to the settlement. Sorell hopes that his residence is convenient and suitable, and says that he has requested the commandant to afford any assistance he might wish for the comfortable establishment of himself and family. He concludes by saying, "I will he happy at all times to hear from you on any subject connected with your own important duties and the welfare of the people amongst whom you are placed."
The chaplain's first "church" was a blacksmith's shop, a small wooden building in Cameron-street, where the Equitable Building Society's premises now stand. In this he performed divine service twice every Sunday.His ministrations were acceptable, for he soon found that the building was too small to contain the people who at tended on Sundays, and he said that it was impossible to administer the Sacrament in it. The building was also in bad repair, and he urged that something should be done before the next winter, otherwise he feared that he would not be able to perform his duty in it. He had reason to believe that several persons were absenting themselves already on account of the state of the building.
Upon personal Inspection Governor Sorell decided that it was not worth the estimated cost of £124 to repair the old building and convert it into is a place for divine worship* and a school and ordered the erection of a new building, and accepted the offer of Messrs Lucas to erect it for £200 cash and 300 acres of land to each of the two brothers. Macquarie in October 1820 approved of the action, but thought the price a great deal too much, and objected to part payment in land, preferring all payments of this of nature to be made in cash. Whether this was actually built, and where, I cannot say; but at any rate more suitable accommodation seems to have been provided for public worship and school.
Youl's flock was a very mixed one. There were first of all the few militia and the civil officers and their wives, the free settlers and their families, scattered about on the farms, the time expired prisoners and ticket-of-leave men, and the convicts. The latter three classes formed the bulk of the population, and a deplorable picture of their moral condition is given us. Youl says that there was a great deal of depravity and dissipation, particularly amongst the emancipated convicts and ticklet-of-leave men. Their ordinary language and conversation were very disgusting, largely the result of frequent intoxication, though we are pleased to learn that even such people respected the cloth, and Youl never received any personal insult.
Adultery and prostitution were common. In fact, there was a general of belief among the convicts that transportation to the colony released them from their matrimonial engagements. Youl says a "great many apply to me to be married whom I have reason to think have been formerly and are still married, though separated from their wives”. Youl speaks more highly of the younger generation growing up - the native born, as they were called - and says they are much to be commended for sobriety and industry considering the bad example they have before them.
Youl therefore had a very unenviable task in endeavouring to uplift a population, the bulk of whom were of such a degraded nature. The prisoners and expirees were of the worst type as only the worst of the prisoners were usually sent to Port Dalrymple and the rest of the inhabitants had been so long without the opportunity of attending Divine Service that they had been almost weaned from the practice of attending religious worship. Youl was a faithful and conscientious pastor so we can well imagine that he had an anxious and busy time.
Governor Macquarle, on the eve of his retirement from the government paid a visit to Tasmania in May and June, 1821. He was still intent on making George Town the headquarters and was dissatisfied to find Launceston still the main centre. Macquarie ordered Youl into residence at George Town, where apparently his parsonage was ready, but winter was already advanced, and he therefore conceded to Youl's request that he might delay his removal until the weather improved. But he gave positive orders to Sorell that Youl was to be in residence there on or before the 1st September next. Macquarie directed that Youl was to come to Launceston to perform divine worship and the other clerical duties once every two months during the summer, autumn, and spring seasons. No mention is made of the winter, so doubtless Launceston was to be without clerical ministrations during the winter months.
Youl went into residence as ordered, of and apparently remained at George Town till headquarters were moved back to Launceston somewhere about the close of 1824. I believe that the parsonage had been converted into a female penitentiary, and in 1825, a house was bought in Launceston for a new parsonage at a cost of £100. The settlement had by this time grown to considerable proportions. There were 900 inhabitants, 270 free persons and 621 bond. There were 209 buildings, of which 123 were dwelling houses, the remainder being stores, shops, skillions, and stables; 33 more houses were in building. By this time too there was a gaol, a penitentiary, and a female factory. Youl's work and responsibility had therefore very largely increased in the few years he had been at Port Dalrymple. **
On handing over the government to Lieut. Governor Arthur, Sorell reported on 22nd May, 1824 -"A church one-third smaller than that at Hobart Town was some time since ordered at Launceston, where it is urgently needed, the school house at present appropriated as a temporary place of worship being small and Inadequate." Arthur writes on 22nd October, 1824:- “Materials are collecting for the erection of a church at Launceston." This was old St. John's, the site of which had been consecrated in 1823, it is said, by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, Senior Chaplain in N.S.W. On 28th January, 1825, the foundation stone was laid by Lieut.-Governor Arthur, and the building was far enough advanced to be used by the end of the year.
Archdeacon Scott visited Tasmania in January, 1826, and during his visitation went to Launceston. He wrote to Lieut-Governor Arthur:- "I beg to express to your Excellency the great satisfaction I felt at finding the church which you had ordered to be built in so forward a state as to enable the inhabitants to attend divine service without much inconvenience. As, however, circumstances will not admit of immediate consecration, I have judged it prudent to defer it until a more seasonable opportunity."
The arrangement and structure of the edifice being simple, but convenient, and admirably adapted to the celebration of divine worship, it only remains for me to recommend to your a Excellency that directions be given for the erection of a plain font and basin opposite to the western entrance - that a Table and plain communion plate be provided, consisting of a plated cup and "two salvers of moderate dimensions, two linen napkins, and one quarto altar service, a scarlet covering for the table, together with two kneeling stools and two plain chairs. There ought to be provided two surplices for the minister, a large-sized Bible and Prayer Book for the desk, and a smaller Prayer Book for the clerk. The pulpit ornaments should correspond with the communion, and it appears to me that a cushion and cloth for the front will be sufficient so soon as the dimensions of the pulpit are ascertained. It will be also necessary to supply a bell of sufficient power that the inhabitants may ascertain the time when divine service is about to commence.”
From the above it will be gathered that the worshippers must have met in a very bare, barn-like place for some little time to come. Apparently Youl took up his parson’s glebe at Launceston, and not at George Town. As a matter of fact the absence of good agricultural land was the great drawback to the settlement at George Town. Giving evidence before Mr. Commissioner Bigge, Youl said that he had not yet (1820) received his glebe land, but he was about to take it near Gibson's farm, on the South Esk River, about 12 miles from Launceston. I do not know how much he received. Paterson's original instructions were that 200 acres were to be allotted to the clergyman as his glebe, but later instructions from Macquarie stipulated 400 acres. Youl said that there was no good land nearer the town that could be made available without considerable expense in fencing. Whether lie actually received this good land on the South Esk Is uncertain, for he only got £30 per annum for this glebe, paid in produce, for three years, and then relinquished it on account of the bad quality of the soil, and not being fenced in for him according to Government orders.
Youl was not actually poor, but he had a large family of eight, and living was most expensive In Tasmania at that time. His salary at his first appointment was £182 10s. In 1822 and 123 he petitioned the Secretary of State for an increase; to which he felt entitled, and this was granted in 1824, making the salary £250 per annum, though no arrears were paid. In addition to the small property In England before mentioned, Youl received various grants of land, 700 acres from Lord Bathurst, which he took in the neighbourhood of "Clarendon," on the South Esk, as well, as the use of five Government servants, with rations for them and his family for the first eighteen months of his residence at Port Dalrymple, and "use of six Government cows for and extended period. In addition to these indulgences received further grants of 100 acres as a remuneration for travelling expenses (incurred in his removal from N.S.W., I presume), 500 acres grant from Governor Brisbane for his second son, and 108 acres from Lieut.- Governor Arthur for his eldest son. On coming to Tasmania he had purchased some sheep, and exchanged the increase for land, and by the time of his death the family was in possession of 4000 acres, 500 sheep, and 100 head of cattle.
Nothing much is known of Youl’s labours after his return to Launceston at the end of 1824, but doubtless his days were very full, and the arduous duties of the growing settlement must often have taxed is strength. He died (rather unexpectedly, It would seem) at Launceston on 25th March, 1827, regretted by all. The funeral service took place on 31st March, and was conducted by the Rev. R. Clathorne, B.A., who had been appointed headmaster of the "Cornwall Collegiate” institution early in 1827. The Rev. Wm. Bedford, the senior chaplain at Hobart, preached a funeral sermon on April 1.
There is no doubt that the Rev. John. Youl was a humble faithful shepherd of his flock, and that he was much liked and respected by his people. Indeed, the "Colonial Times" broke out into an eight-versed poem on his virtues. But Archdeacon Scott, reporting on his work, said:- Of Mr. Youl’s abilities, I regret to say that they were below mediocrity, and his age and infirmities rendered him quite unfit for the duties of so large and populous a district, but I verily believe he did his duty to the utmost of such abilities as he possessed." *** All the references I have seen to John Youl give the impression that he was an old man. The "Colonial Times" said that he was nearly 70 years of age on his death. Imagine my surprise, therefore, when referring to the tombstone over hIs grave in the old Cypress-street Cemetery in Launceston, I found his age given as 50 years. The Colonial Times is no authority. It Is that paper which is responsible for the assertion that Youl died of a broken heart on receipt of news that he was to be transferred to the South Esk River. This is high improbable: it fact, ridiculous, In view of the fact that this was a small military outpost, and there were many large districts without chaplains. But there can be no mistake about the other references as - to Youl's age and infirmity. Perhaps the truth is that he looked older than he really was and his years of service in the South Seas may have weakened his constitution and made him less hardy and vigorous than he should otherwise have been at 50 years of age.
A year later his widow transmitted, through Archdeacon Scott, a petition to the Secretary of State for a pension. Lieut.-Governor Arthur supported it, and said that it was certainly a hard case and that the family was in very distressed circumstances. The eldest boy was only 17 years old, and one had been born six weeks after his father's death, so the widow would have a struggle to provide for them and educate them according to their station - one had begun his education for the church, and she was desirous of continuing him in that course if possible. The family should have been comfortably oft according to our present notions, but we must remember that labour was very expensive in those days, and settlers required a big capital behind them generally if they were to succeed.
Unfortunately the Secretary of State refused the pension; it seems that he was principally afraid of creating a precedent, but as a help, if desired, he offered a free return passage to England. This was not availed of. Mrs. Youl remained here, and lived to a great old age, dying at her home near Evandale on 11th July, 1877, at the age of 84 years. She was buried with her husband, as was also her sons William and John, who predeceased her, and her daughter Charlotte, who died only In 1905, at the age of 80 years.
Thus ends the story of the Rev. John Youl and his work at Port Dalrymple. Though doubtless he had no great outstanding gifts, yet even the life of an ordinary man in those extraordinaryn times Is of great interest. The pity of it is that we have too little information to make a connected story, but we have enough to give all honour to the humble, pious, good man, who was a faithful pastor of souls in those difficult days of Port Dalrymple.
* Sorell’s planned improvement to the blacksmith’s shop included providing worshippers with a proper place to kneel, to install four glass windows and to line the interior with weatherboard. It is not clear if these improvements were carried out.
** Responsibilities included administering the last rites to condemned prisoner. In September 1824, Youl and Catholic priest, Philip Connolly, “attended at the place of execution”, at Port Dalrymple, of “ten unfortunate men who suffered the awful sentence of the law”. A report on the execution records “…with the exception of Corfield, the whole of these unhappy men died penitently, and in begging forgiveness of their sins to the Almighty…”.
*** A report in the Hobart Town Gazette in 1825 described Youl as “a very mild humane man, and who… has never once caused a quarrel by unclergymanlike interference with things not attached to his sacred province”.
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| An early sketch of Launceston (1823) : `Sketches. 1822. Van Diemen's Land', 1822-1847 / drawn by Thomas Scott - Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales |
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| A watercolour of Government Cottage, Launceston, which was used as the residence of Reverend John Youl. Libraries Tasmania - Item Number LPIC147/4/66 |
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| The headstone from the Grave of Reverend John Youl which is now in the possession of St John's Church |
The Hobart Town Gazette and Southern Reporter, Saturday 6 February 1819, page 2
Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser, Friday 24 September 1824, page 2
Tasmanian and port Dalrymple Advertiser, Wednesday 19 January 1825, page 2
Hobart Town Gazette and Van Dieman's Land Advertiser, Friday 8 April 1825, page 2
Tasmanian and Port Dalrymple Advertiser, Wednesday 9 February 1825, page 2
Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser, Friday 30 March 1827, page 3
Examiner, Thursday 29 November 1928, page 8
https://resources.allsaints.network/histcoll/index.php/Detail/entities/P003
https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/youl-john-2827
Cox, Peter, The Story of the Anglican Parish of George Town, (2006) Published by the Anglican Parish of Riverlinks
Green, Anne and Launceston (Tas.). Council. A model municipality : places of management, mentoring & medicine in Launceston / Anne Green Launceston City Council Launceston, Tas. 2007
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